Contestant Rules
The following rules which govern the participation of Bible Bee contestants must be followed in order for competitors to be candidates for participation in the Bible Bee National Contest.
Sponsor
1) The Bible Bee Competition is made up of two separate contests. The Shelby Kennedy Foundation, also referred to as Bible Bee Headquarters (BBH), is the sponsor of the National Contest held in Washington, D.C. on November 5-6, 2009. The Shelby Kenney Foundation sanctions Local Contests to be sponsored by Local Planning Committees throughout the United States, but is not responsible for the organization, operation, or administration of those Local Contests.
Eligibility
2) The Bible Bee Competition is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Contestants who are immediate family members, or who live in the same household as members of the Shelby Kennedy Foundation professional staff, its Board of Directors, or independent contractors who have worked on the development of contest content for the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, are ineligible to win prize money at the National Bible Bee Contest. The term “immediate family members” includes children and grandchildren.
3) Contestants must compete with other students within the same age group.
Age Group Age Range
Primary Ages 7–10
Junior Ages 11–14
Senior Ages 15–18
4) Contestants must compete in the age groups to which they will belong on the final day of the National Bible Bee Competition (November 6, 2009). Six-year-olds, for example, are permitted to participate in the Primary age group of the Bible Bee Competition, provided that they turn seven on or before last day of the National Contest. On the other end of the spectrum, eighteen-year-olds who will turn nineteen on or before the last day of the National Contest are not eligible to participate.
5) Grand Prize and First Prize winners are not eligible to compete in the Bible Bee Competition again until they move to the next age group. All other winners may compete in subsequent competitions.
6) Contestants may only participate with the consent of a parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians are required to sign the Parent/Guardian Consent Form, indicating that they agree with, or are willing to comply with, the Bible Bee Statement of Faith, Philosophy of Ministry, and all Bible Bee Competition rules. All Parent/Guardian Consent Forms must be received by BBH no later than midnight, August 3, 2009.
Entry Period
7) The Bible Bee Competition will begin accepting online enrollments on February 15, 2009. Enrollment must be finalized no later than midnight of April 30, 2009.
Entry Instructions
8) A place for potential contestants in a Local Contest must be reserved by contacting a Local Planning Committee before online enrollment may be completed. (Contact information for Local Planning Committees is posted on the Bible Bee website.) Beginning February 15, 2009, parents/guardians may then finalize a contestant’s enrollment by completing enrollment online, signing the Parent/Guardian Consent Form, and paying a nonrefundable, non-transferrable $20 enrollment fee. Reduced enrollment fees are available for families with multiple contestants.
9) As part of the enrollment process, contestants must specify one of five versions of the Bible from which to quote Bible passages in response to Bible Memory Questions: King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New International Version (NIV), and the English Standard Version (ESV). Because of the variations found within different copyrights of these Bible versions, Bible Bee Headquarters will use the Bible text provided on its free downloadable quiz cards for judging memorization accuracy in all of its contests, both Local and National. While preparing for the competition, contestants should always check their memorization using these quiz cards. Bible Knowledge questions will be phrased in such a way that the version studied by the contestants will not affect their ability to answer.
Qualification for the National Contest
10) Contestants must participate in Local Contests which have been sanctioned by Bible Bee Headquarters and which are held on September 12, 2009.
11) Contestants must score in the top 100 contestants within their age groups nationwide to qualify as finalists and thereby as participants in the National Contest. In the event that one or more finalists are unable to participate in the National Contest, BBH will notify runners-up, in order of their scores, that they have the opportunity to compete in the National Contest in Washington, D.C.
12) Contestants must receive official notice from Bible Bee Headquarters that they have qualified as finalists in order to compete in the National Contest.
13) Contestants, upon notification of qualification for the National Contest, must have their test materials submitted by the Local Planning Committee to BBH for verification. The test materials must be received by BBH no later than Thursday, September 17, 2009.
14) Upon verification of test results, parents/guardians of finalists must notify BBH of the contestant’s intent to participate in the National Contest within the time period and in the manner stipulated by BBH. Contestants are required to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when in Washington, D.C., and must provide proof of their birth dates (i.e., copies of birth certificates or passports), as part of their onsite registration for the National event.
Disqualification
15) National Bible Bee Headquarters may disqualify, prior to or during competition, any contestants not in compliance with any of its eligibility requirements; and it may—at any time between the conclusion of the 2009 National Bible Bee Competition and November 1, 2010—require any contestants found to have been out of compliance with any of the eligibility requirements to forfeit the prizes, rank, and other benefits accorded to the them as a result of participation in the 2009 National Bible Bee Competition.
16) Testing materials for Local Contests are developed and distributed by Bible Bee Headquarters. Use of any other testing materials will be cause for disqualification of contestants from participation in the National Bible Bee Contest. Contest content is found in the Bee-liever’s Handbook and is the source for both written and oral examinations.
17) Contestants who arrive more than 15 minutes after the close of registration on Local Contest day are disqualified from participation in the Local Contest.
18) Contestants and parents/guardians must treat the Local Planning Committee and its supporting staff with respect and courtesy. Rudeness on the part of any contestant or parent/guardian will be grounds for contestant disqualification from participation in any part of the 2009 National Bible Bee Competition.
19) Parents/guardians must treat their own children and youth and other contestants in a positive and encouraging manner. No demeaning/negative language, shouting, or ridicule will be tolerated. Such behavior on the part of parents/guardians will be grounds for disqualification of their contestants from participation in any part of the 2009 National Bible Bee Competition.
20) The members of the Local Planning Committee reserve the right at their own discretion to remove parents/guardians from the contest premises, or to disqualify contestants from participation in any part of the 2009 National Bible Bee Competition if their parents/guardians exhibit rude, disruptive, or violent behavior.
General Instructions
21) Parents/guardians may only accompany their contestants in locations and rooms approved by the Local Planning Committee.
22) No parents/guardians may be present in the room where any of their children or youth are competing.
23) No parents/guardians may be responsible for proctoring, judging, collecting, or grading tests completed by contestants in an age group that contains any of their children or youth.
24) Contestants must be present and ready to compete when written exam proctors and oral rounds judges first begin to give testing instructions. Contestants who are tardy will forfeit all possible points for the exam or round for which they have arrived late.
Written Test
22) There are two versions of the written test for each age group. These versions will be handed to contestants in such a manner that no two adjacent contestants will receive the same test version.
26) Contestants should look only at their own tests, not at the tests of others. After one warning, a contestant who is looking at other tests should be moved to a more isolated area; after a second warning, he/she will be disqualified from further competition.
27) All questions contained in the written test are phrased as multiple-choice questions. Contestants should follow test instructions as found on the test document and mark answers clearly on the testing materials.
Oral Rounds
28) In each oral round, contestants will be given 12 minutes within which to answer multiple questions, some of which will be Bible Memory questions and some of which will be Bible Knowledge questions.
29) After the judges state each question, contestants will have 15 seconds within which to begin answering.
30) When answering Bible Memory questions, contestants will state the reference to a passage before and after reciting the passage. Contestants should speak as distinctly as possible and loudly enough for the judges to hear the response.
31) Contestants may ask judges to repeat questions, but the time spent in repetition is included in the total test response time, which may not exceed 12 minutes.
32) Answers to Bible Knowledge questions in the Oral Round are worth 10 points and are either right or wrong; no partial credit may be given. Answers to Bible Memory questions receive a potential of 10 points each. Points are deducted for words that are omitted or erroneous and for answers that are incomplete.
33) In the event that contestants complete all oral round questions with complete accuracy within their allotted12-minutes, they will have the opportunity to answer a Bonus Question, which follows the same evaluation process as regular Bible memory and Bible knowledge questions, but because of its difficulty rating, has a potential value of 20 points.
33) The judges uphold the rules and determine whether or not questions are answered correctly. They are in complete control of the oral rounds of the competition, and their decisions are final on all questions.
Contestant Terms and Conditions
TERM: This Agreement commences on date the parent/guardian signs the Contestant Rules (which along with these Terms and Conditions constitutes the Agreement), and expires on November 30, 2009. A new agreement must be signed for future contests.
LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY: It is understood that the Local Planning Committee is solely responsible for organizing and operating the Local Bible Bee Contest. By participating in the Bible Bee Competition, contestants and their parents/guardians assume any and all risks associated with the activities involved including, but not limited to, risks of personal injury, property damage or loss, and death. The contestants and their parents/guardians indemnify and hold harmless Shelby-Kennedy Foundation (SKF), its officers, agents, employees and attorneys, against any and all liability, claims, suits, losses, damages costs, and legal fees caused by, arising out of, or resulting from the Bible Bee Contest and any associated events.
WINNERS: Prize winners and their parents/guardians are responsible for complying with all the applicable tax laws and filing requirements. All Federal, State, and/or local taxes, registration, license, title and other fees, costs and expenses related to the prize awarded and the National Contest are the sole responsibility of the winners and their parents/guardians. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation, of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and mention of municipality and state of residence for SKF’s promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which SKF may deem appropriate.
CANCELLATION: In the event that the Shelby Kennedy Foundation cannot complete the Bible Bee Competition as planned, the Shelby Kennedy Foundation reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Bible Bee Competition at any time without prior notice.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION: If a dispute arises out of or relates to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, or for breach of warranty, express or implied, or tort and if the dispute cannot first be settled through good faith negotiations, the parties agree to attempt in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation in San Diego County California administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Mediation Procedures before resorting to arbitration, litigation, or some other dispute resolution procedure. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, or for breach of warranty, express or implied, or tort not resolved by mediation shall proceed to binding arbitration in San Diego County California administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules.
CHOICE OF LAW, JURISDICTION AND VENUE: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. Any action brought to enforce any provision of this Agreement or for breach of warranty, express or implied, or tort shall be brought in San Diego County, California in any Court of competent jurisdiction.
ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS: In the event that a dispute arises related to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs.
NO WAIVER: Any waiver of any terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach of such terms or conditions or any other term or condition, nor shall any failure to enforce any provision hereof operate as a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.
AMENDMENT: This Agreement may not be amended, nor shall any waiver, change, modification, consent or discharge be affected except by an instrument in writing executed by or on behalf of the party against whom enforcement of any amendment, waiver, change, modification, consent or discharge is sought, except that SKF reserves the right to modify in its sole discretion these Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest.
SEVERABILITY: If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid under the laws of any jurisdiction governing its provisions, such section shall be limited consistent with its intent so that it is valid, or if this is not possible, deleted from this Agreement and shall have no impact upon the other terms of this Agreement, which shall survive with all other provisions intact.
ASSIGNMENT: This Agreement may not be assigned without the written consent of SKF.
Bible Bee Media Release
There may be several occasions during the Bible Bee Competition when the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, Bible Bee Staff, or news media asks to interview and/or photograph contestants and/or other members of their families. This may occur at the Local Bible Bee Contests or the National Bible Bee Contest in Washington, D.C.
Sometimes television stations request a taping or an interview with a winning contestant and/or other members of his/her family; newspaper reporters also may ask to interview a contestant and/or other members of his/her family. There will also be times when pictures and/or contest-related information about contestants, contestants’ testimonies, as well as encouraging information on a contestants’ experience with the Bible Bee will be posted on the Bible Bee web page.
Parent/Legal Guardian Media Release Agreement
I hereby grant permission to the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, the Bible Bee, and various media reporting on the Bible Bee to photograph/interview members of my family. It is my understanding that photographs, interviews, and contest-related personal information may be used for public view.
I agree to allow my members of my family to participate in media related events without financial remuneration, and understand that by signing this form, that I release the Shelby Kennedy Foundation and the Bible Bee from any future claims, as well as from any liability, arising from the use of photographs, interviews, and contest-related personal information.
